Sonoma County, CA, October 13, 2015 – Sonoma Wine Country Weekend, Sonoma County’s largest wine and food charitable event, and one of the top three U.S. charitable wine auctions, is pleased to announce a new partnership with Community Foundation Sonoma County. This collaboration leverages the Community Foundation’s non-profit charitable giving expertise with the vision and generosity of the Sonoma County wine industry and Sonoma Wine Country Weekend, which has raised $20 million to date for local charities. As the event continues to grow, the philanthropic impact will multiply and this collaboration ensures the fundraising has the greatest possible community impact.

“Sonoma Wine Country Weekend is an excellent example of mobilizing generosity to create community change,” said Elizabeth Brown, President & CEO, Community Foundation Sonoma County.  “We look forward to building on the successes of Fund the Future and the Community Grants Program by bringing our community knowledge, local partnerships and philanthropic expertise in support of Sonoma Wine Country Weekend’s mission.”

For the past 32 years, Community Foundation Sonoma County has helped donors fulfill their philanthropic dreams. Some of the most notable projects include facilitating the development of the Schulz Museum, Pepperwood Preserve, Oliver Ranch Foundation, Chop’s Teen Club and Scholarship Sonoma County (now 10,000 Degrees Sonoma County).

Community Foundation Sonoma County is at the forefront of conversations to advance innovation in education to close the opportunity gap, implement upstream approaches that prevent, not just intervene, and improve the health outcomes for all Sonoma County residents.

Dan Goldfield, President of Sonoma County Vintners Foundation said, “In addition to being wonderful people, the Community Foundation Sonoma County is a great strategic partner for our needs. Their expertise and strong collaborations throughout our county will continue to help us improve our efforts to strengthen our community.”

Squire Fridell, President of Sonoma Valley Vintners and Growers Foundation added, “Thanks to the generosity of the Sonoma County wine industry and auction bidders from across the country during Sonoma Wine Country Weekend, we are able to support the needs of the community.  We are now grateful to have the opportunity to work with the Community Foundation Sonoma County to strategically invest the proceeds in order to create the most significant,    long-term positive impact.”

For more information on Sonoma Wine Country Weekend, please visit www.SonomaWineCountryWeekend.com.

If you are a current grantee and need assistance, please reach out to Karin Demarest, Vice President for Programs at kdemarest@sonomacf.org.

If you would like to receive information about future Sonoma Wine Country Weekend grant opportunities, please send an email to Rubie Magallanes, Program Assistant, at rmagallanes@sonomacf.org and include the following information:

Organization Name:
Organization Mailing Address:
Organization Website:
Contact Name:
Contact Title:
Contact Phone:
Contact Email:

For future grantmaking, SWCW is in the process of reviewing all grants programs and there will be announcements of grant criteria and timelines later this year.  All current grantees will be notified once this information is available.